This is what makes our family life what it is, little and big things.
little:
practicing letters in names with pancakes.
BIG:
changing one of the ugliest painted bathrooms I've ever seen into something more me.
(or as Justin pointed out, a little more like a baby boy's room. perfect.)
I had some help, of course.
little:
playing with food.
BIG:
labor of love in the backyard, trying to change this plot of ground into something more like
this.
(I sure do hope I have the energy to can some tomatoes, salsa, spaghetti sauce)
but in the meantime we are enjoying the fruits of our labor...
little:
helping mom make cookies
(pretty much a bi-weekly activity)
BIG:
taking time to reflect on this country and those who have sacrificed so much to make it pretty awesome
especially since these boys are growing up in this land.
little:
the new love of collecting and trading pokemon cards with school friends.
(thank goodness for summer break)
BIG:
worked hard the last few weeks of school to complete an animal report, which meant that this little boy completed the 2nd grade.
We are so proud of you Corbin! You have more than doubled your reading this year, which we know took a lot of hard work on your part, and you have accelerated in math. Way to go!
little:
playing with mom's hair.
(yes, there is a cup inside my hair...the boys thought they were being hilarious)
BIG:
Taylor graduated from Kindergarten!
He had the most amazing, cutest school teacher
and the funnest, musically talented aide.
Taylor, you were so ready to have your 'own' thing, and school is where you found it. Your teacher said you were such a sweetheart, quiet, loving, and excited to learn. We feel you really learned to break out of your comfort zone and do hard things. You are really picking up the rules of reading. Way to go, buddy!
BIG:
this charmer turned another year older!
I love how selfless he is. He wanted his day to be fun for everyone (especially the boys) We enjoyed going out to eat together, picking out lots of treats at the store to enjoy together, playing at the park for a couple of hours (where he was the main attraction at the merry-go-round, pushing tons of kids at a time, the boys were pretty proud to be his children), and then playing games at home together. We had a good day.
Happy Birthday to my favorite man in the world!
little:
we took a week off after school got out to pretty much do nothing. Late nights, sleeping in, playing super nintendo (where the boys learned how "into" it I can get), pulling weeds (because that's nothing), and gearing up for what we hope to be the BEST summer yet. Because at the end of this summer we get to welcome a bundle of joy into our happy home.
BIG:
We wanted to surprise the boys with a kick off to summer. We didn't tell them what we were doing until we were driving there.
(I learned that, like his daddy, Corbin hates secrets)
All they knew was that we would be gone all day, we had to pack a lunch, and they needed lots of sunscreen.
It felt like Christmas in the car when they heard where we were heading to:
Lagoon...all...day...long...
(last time we went there, four years ago, we had a free entrance pass and could ride only three rides, so yes, this was like Christmas to them)
Corbin and Daddy took off to ride a lot of the bigger rides; while Levi, Taylor and I rode the safer rides. At lunch we met up and then spent the rest of the day together.
Being at Lagoon showed more of our kids personalities:
Corbin - Is daring to try just about anything, hesitated a little on some rides, but was convinced and loved every second of it. He rode the colossus twice (it took me until jr. high to ride that one), white rollercoaster was the scariest to him, the spider, samuri, wild mouse, screamer...and pretty much every other thriller. (Was ready to do the rocket, but we were getting exhausted)
Taylor - was in heaven on all the kid rides, hated the haunted house, could handle a couple bigger rides, and quietly declined on the scarier rides. He loves the ones that spin fast.
Levi - little wild, adventurous, thrill seeker. He wanted to go on any ride he possibly could. Cried when I told him he wasn't big enough for that one (collosus, samuri, wild mouse) and only wanted to be by his dad because I told him no too many times.
It was a fun day.
We have lots of fun memories with big things, but in my opinion, it's the little things that make the happiest families!
Here's to summer!
